As said by somebody else upthread, we got tired of chewing the same fat. And as the real world went insane, sterile debate about increasingly tired topics became more flame-war than good natured intellectual exercise.
If we still had a vast influx of newbies every month I bet GD would stand a much better chance of still being a lively place to hang out.
The BBQ Pit is the new GD. This is where the real debating happens.
Weirdly true.
Well, perhaps because at least here when someone starts sealioning or repeatedly mis-citing, you can call them out on it without elaborate circumlocution to avoid direct insults or accusations. 
Sometimes it helps in a productive debate to be able to tell the trolls to fuck right off.
Otherwise, they Tragedy the Commons the way GD went.
ETA: Ninja’d!
That reminds me-
When I came back from Florida, among the pile of mail was a package. I opened that package, as one does, and found a battery operated carbon monoxide alarm. With the many problems aI have been dealing with, I forgot to thank you until now.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome of course, it came up in that thread, and since I had all the information I needed right there and then, it was no problem at all.
Now, let us go forth and curse lest we be smote mightily for being all positive and shit in the Pit.
-looks about furtively, hoping the curse covered the stench of positivity-
The original board: “These political threads are taking over GQ! We need a special forum for political threads!”, and hence, GD was born.
Then, years later, “These political threads are taking over GD! We need a special forum for political threads!”, and hence, P&E was born.
GD minus the political threads was always tiny. I mean, sure, you’d get the long-running “Does God Exist?”, and so on, but it doesn’t take folks long to get tired of those.
When Trump was first elected, I started reading P&E a lot looking for solace, started reading The Pit for catharsis. I found both. Now P&E is looking bleak and I’m finding everything I need here in The Pit.
Not sure how I feel about that.
Cathartic, perhaps?
Troll alert in the Retaliatory Tariffs thread: culling_the_herd. This maroon talks oddly:
“We love Canada, but we have some concerns. We’re glad that we’re working them out.”
Apparently he is the mouthpiece for the right?
Hmmm,
Joined Aug 29, 2023
2 posts created
Both in the OMGosh, FFOTUS just announced US to sponsor ethic cleansing in Gaza thread.
Nah, DLKeur couldn’t possibly be a trock.
The crazy goings on from the FFOTUS is bringing out the crazies.
Yeah, trockdar going absolutely nuts
Wait till you see the latest post in the “why did dems lose so many pres votes” thread. I engaged with them in one thread and I think they are a legit new poster, but very misinformed. Not sure how you shove their nose in the turd they brought about, but they will still vote for Trump because “woke”. I’m done with them.
I saw that. Apparently ‘Bernie Bro’ is now ‘MAGA without Trump’.
Actually, I am going to engage them again. I know this state and this is the person destroying it. Nope. They are very sincere. Done engaging.
I looked up that foundation. Worrying. IMO
We have, in fact, had numerous substantive discussions in the Pit (“we” meaning a bunch of us Dopers). It can be a place of refreshing honesty (reflecting on the accuser as well as the accused).
^^^ Yes, this.
I anxiously await more concerns and sage observations from said poster. I expect them to include concerns about Canada’s “socialist” culture which shockingly includes universal health care, and an immigration policy that lets in too many of the “wrong” kinds (when it comes to the “wrong” kinds – traditionally established by comparisons with a Sherwin-Williams paint chip colour chart* – “too many” means more than zero).
* Anthing darker than SW 6324 (“Alluring White”) should be rejected, but under special circumstances SW 7711 (“Pueblo”) and even SW 7712 (“Townhouse Tan”) may be admissible, but that’s it. Don’t even ask about SW 7523 (“Burnished Brandy”)!
The bottom one is fine. The top one is acceptable when worn by certain US presidents.
